Section 144 imposed in Islamabad as PTI gears up for Sept 27 protest

As Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) gears up for its planned Sept 27 protest in the federal capital, the Islamabad administration on Wednesday reminded citizens that Section 144 was in force for two months, barring gatherings, rallies and demonstrations, and urged them to stay away from illegal activities and cooperate with security institutions.

The order, a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune, was issued by Islamabad Additional District Magistrate Dr Anam Fatima on Sept 18.

It said that the restrictions were imposed in view of reports that certain segments of society were planning to organise unlawful assemblies, including majalis and processions, within the jurisdiction of Islamabad Capital Territory.

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The order said such activities could disrupt public peace and tranquillity and cited the prevailing law and order and security situation as grounds for imposing the restrictions.

“Certain segments of the public are planning to take out processions, including religious/sectarian processions, and to stage demonstrations in Islamabad Capital Territory,” the order said.

According to the order, such activities were likely to threaten public peace and tranquillity, cause public annoyance or injury, endanger human life and safety, pose a threat to public property and potentially lead to a riot or an affray, including a sectarian riot, within Islamabad’s territorial limits.

The additional district magistrate said sufficient grounds existed to proceed under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, and that immediate prevention and speedy remedy were required to protect public life and property.

The order prohibits “all kinds of gatherings of 5 (five) or more persons, processions/rallies and demonstrations” at any public place within the revenue limits of Islamabad.

The restrictions also cover the Red Zone, whose boundaries have been specified in the order.

The order took effect immediately and will remain in force for two months.

In a separate statement, the district administration reminded citizens that Section 144 was in force in the federal capital and that no kind of gathering or assembly was permitted in the city.

It said gatherings were also prohibited under the Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act, 2024, and warned that strict action would be taken in accordance with the law in case of any violation.

“The punishment for violating the Act is three years in prison,” the administration said.

It urged citizens not to become part of any illegal activity and asked them to cooperate with security institutions as responsible citizens. 

The order came as the Kissan Ittehad and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) announced plans for separate long marches on Islamabad in the coming week, with the former seeking relief for farmers and the latter demanding the release of party founder Imran Khan from jail.

Twin cities ramp up anti-protest measures

Preparations to deal with the PTI long march have entered the final phase in Rawalpindi Division, with more than 43,000 personnel to be deployed in Attock, Rawalpindi, Murree, Jhelum and Chakwal to prevent protesters from entering the twin cities.

Police authorities have decided to keep Rawalpindi and Islamabad open with all preparations in place until the march enters Punjab territory.

Officials will assess the situation under a “wait and see” policy and take a response according to the situation if marchers cross barriers in Punjab and move closer to the twin cities.

High-level meetings on preparations for the PTI long march are continuing.

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A meeting of senior police and administrative officials, including the inspectors general of Punjab, Islamabad and Railways, was also held on Wednesday, where officials were briefed on preparations and the strategy was discussed.

In Rawalpindi Division, more than 43,000 police personnel will perform march-related duties in Attock, Rawalpindi, Murree, Jhelum and Chakwal. Of these, 30,000 personnel will be deployed in Attock.

Around 14,250 personnel will be deployed at sealing points on the M-1 motorway, including Haroon Bridge, Ghazi-Barotha Motorway Bridge, Tower Hill, Hazara Motorway and Pathar Garh.

Another 11,450 personnel will be deployed at sealing points on the N-5 and N-80 routes, including Attock Khurd, Tarbela Road Jhansa, Haro Bridge, Jablat Bridge, Chaska Point and Khushal Garh.

Around 5,000 personnel will be deployed at sealing points on the M-14 CPEC route, including Dhok Syedan Interchange and other M-14 points.

All personnel have been directed to perform duty equipped with riot-control equipment and kits.

In Rawalpindi district, more than 10,000 police personnel will be deployed. Around 3,100 personnel will be stationed at 26 entry points, 1,800 at 73 blocking points in the city area, 3,738 at 152 police pickets, and 300 personnel on 50 roads and streets connecting the twin cities. Another 1,674 personnel will be deployed in responding teams across six sectors.

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In Murree, 224 personnel will be deployed at 16 blocking points, while 1,400 personnel will be deployed at nine blocking points in Jhelum. Chakwal will have 352 police personnel at 10 blocking points.

A survey of petrol pumps and hotels along the GT Road and motorway has also been conducted. Within Rawalpindi, two petrol pumps and 23 petrol pumps were identified on the motorway and GT Road respectively, while there are two hotels on the motorway and 37 on the GT Road.

In Attock, five petrol pumps are located on the motorway and 63 on the GT Road, while there are nine hotels on the motorway and 64 on the GT Road.

Across the five districts of Rawalpindi Region, including Attock, Rawalpindi, Chakwal, Jhelum and Murree, 666 tear-gas guns, 52,118 long-range shells, 7,243 short-range shells, 1,529 splints, 1,531 gas masks and 1,693 gas-mask filters are available.

Additional equipment has been demanded, including 500 repeater guns, 57,000 rubber bullets, 710 tear-gas guns, 61,000 long-range and 10,000 short-range tear-gas shells, 1,200 tear-gas grenades, 7,150 gas-mask filters, 5,600 gas masks and 6,500 splints.

Authorities have also sought 4,050 Robocop anti-riot kits, 4,000 long transparent shields, 3,050 new-pattern helmets, 1,500 bulletproof helmets, 1,500 bulletproof jackets, 200 binoculars, 100 night-vision devices and barbed wire.

For transport and logistics, six armoured personnel carrier (APC) vans, two water cannons, 20 prison vans, 50 megaphones and 12 quadcopters along with operators have also been demanded. Additional surveillance equipment includes 12 quadcopters and their operators.

Police personnel have already reached Attock. Supervisory officers have been directed to ensure security of the areas where the force has been deployed, with police personnel also assigned security duties in shifts.

Meanwhile, the Rawalpindi police and administration have sought Rangers’ assistance for Rawalpindi Region and Mianwali.

In Islamabad, preparations to deal with the PTI march are also at their peak. The city will be monitored from the Safe City headquarters, while more than 200,000 bags of soil have been arranged along with 110,000 tear-gas shells and 1,300 rifles capable of firing tear gas.

According to sources, containers have been delivered to almost every major intersection in the capital. Around 210 containers are required to close the city’s entry points, while soil-filled trolleys have also been brought in to make the containers heavier.

Read: PTI to finalise capital march strategy

Islamabad Police have arranged 110,000 tear-gas shells and currently have 1,300 guns for firing them, while an additional 500 guns have been ordered.

The capital has 22 cranes available for installing and removing containers. Three routes leading to the Red Zone have already been sealed, with containers placed and welded together.

Police personnel from other provinces have already reached Islamabad. The city will be monitored through Safe City cameras and smart vehicles, while the operations room at the Inspector General’s Office will also keep a round-the-clock watch on the situation.